The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus Has Come to an End

After over a century in operation, the Barnum & Bailey Ringling Bros. circus is shutting down due to a combination of decreased ticket sales, high operating costs, and the phasing out of elephant acts.

"After much evaluation and deliberation, my family and I have made the difficult business decision that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will hold its final performances in May of this year. Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop. This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company."

Various animal rights groups have protested the circus company for their treatment of animals, particularly their elephants. After an extensive legal battle, the company removed the elephants from the show in May of 2016.

PETA celebrated the shut-down of the "saddest show on Earth" in a statement:

"Thirty-six years of PETA protests, of documenting animals left to die, beaten animals, and much more, has reduced attendance to the point of no return. All other animal circuses, roadside zoos, and wild animal exhibitors, including marine amusement parks like SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium, must take note: society has changed, eyes have been opened, people know now who these animals are, and we know it is wrong to capture and exploit them."

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